Nicoletta Lanese is the health channel editor at Live Science and was previously a news editor and staff writer at the site. She is a recipient of the 2026 AHCJ International Health Study Fellowship, with a project focused on antibiotic stewardship practices in Japan and the U.S. They hold a graduate certificate in science communication from UC Santa Cruz and degrees in neuroscience and dance from the University of Florida. Beyond Live Science, Lanese's work has appeared in The Scientist, Science News, the Mercury News, Mongabay and Stanford Medicine Magazine, among other outlets. Based in NYC, she also remains involved in dance and performs in local choreographers' work.
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Black eyes, orbital fractures and retinal detachment: Pickleball-related eye injuries are on the rise in the USA new analysis suggests the rate of pickleball-related eye injuries has increased dramatically in the U.S. as the sport gains popularity.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'The Big One' could be even worse than COVID-19. Here's what epidemiologist Michael Osterholm says we can learn from past pandemics.The new book "The Big One" describes lessons learned from past pandemics and how they might be applied to mitigate the dangers of future outbreaks.
By Dr. Michael Osterholm Published
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Scientists created human egg cells from skin cells — then used them to make embryosIn a proof-of-concept experiment, scientists demonstrated that you can create and fertilize human eggs in the lab using sperm, genes from skin cells, and the "shells" of existing egg cells.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'Groundbreaking' gene therapy is first treatment for Huntington's disease to slow the conditionResults from a three-year trial suggest an experimental gene therapy for Huntington's disease can slow the progression of the deadly condition by 75%.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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If tiny lab-grown 'brains' became conscious, would it still be OK to experiment on them?A perspective paper published this week argued that brain organoids could soon gain consciousness, and we should consider stricter regulations around them.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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CDC committee votes to change measles vaccine guidance for young childrenThe Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has recommended against using the MMRV vaccine in children under 4. This could eliminate a choice for kids' first dose of measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox prevention.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Even brief exposure to air pollution can push the placenta into an inflammatory state, lab study suggestsA study of human placentas suggests that urban air pollution may push the organ's resident immune cells into an inflammatory state.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Have you gotten this year's COVID vaccine?Federal guidance about the 2025-2026 COVID-19 vaccine has raised questions and confusion around the shots. Have you tried to get one this year?
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Breakthrough cystic fibrosis drug that extends life by decades earns its developers a $250,000 'American Nobel'One of this year's coveted Lasker Awards went to three scientists who helped invent a life-saving treatment for cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'We have basically destroyed what capacity we had to respond to a pandemic,' says leading epidemiologist Michael OsterholmINTERVIEW Live Science spoke with leading epidemiologist Michael Osterholm about his new book, "The Big One," which discusses the next pandemic and how to mitigate its harm.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Just 1 dose of LSD could relieve anxiety for months, trial findsAn early trial with about 200 people tested the effects of LSD on generalized anxiety disorder and found promising results.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Formaldehyde-free hair-straightening products may still threaten health, concerning study findsFormaldehyde-free hair-straightening products have been marketed as a safer option, but they may pose a risk to kidney health, a case series suggests.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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First-ever pig-to-human lung transplant attempted in brain-dead person in ChinaIn a first, scientists in China transplanted a lung from a pig into a human so they could see how the host immune system handled the procedure.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'Minibrains' reveal secrets of how key brain cells form in the wombMiniature models of the brain have revealed a "previously unappreciated" role of microglia, a type of cell found within the organ. The finding could help unpack how disorders such as autism arise.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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If 'pregnancy robots' were real, would you use one?A viral story raised the idea of using robots outfitted with artificial wombs to incubate human babies from conception to birth. If such technology existed, would you consider using it?
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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$14,000 pregnancy robot from China isn't real. But is a similar technology possible?A story circulating on social media this week featured a seemingly made-up scientist who is developing an equally imaginary "pregnancy robot." Virality ensued.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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FDA recalls more bagged, frozen shrimp over possible radioactive cesium contaminationThe FDA is warning consumers not to eat certain frozen shrimp products sold at Walmart after other products from the same company tested positive for a radioactive substance.
By Nicoletta Lanese Last updated
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A man's preference for 'soft' bacon may have given him brain wormsA man in the U.S. reported worsening migraine symptoms. It turned out that a pork tapeworm had invaded his brain.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Special protection may help human eggs stay fresh as the body agesA new study suggests that the mitochondria in human egg cells don't accumulate DNA mutations with age, which sets them apart from other tissues in the body.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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Man sought diet advice from ChatGPT and ended up with dangerous 'bromism' syndromeA case report describes an incident in which a man seeking to make a dietary change consulted ChatGPT and later developed "bromism," a rare "toxidrome."
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'These decisions were completely reckless': Funding cuts to mRNA vaccines will make America more vulnerable to pandemicsInterview mRNA expert Jeff Coller spoke with Live Science about the future of mRNA vaccines in the United States in the aftermath of huge federal funding cuts.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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A woman had something in her eye — and it turned out to be parasitic wormsA woman went to the hospital several times with the feeling that something was stuck in her eye. It turned out to be parasites.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
2 Commentshealth -
Experimental HIV vaccines show promise in early safety testSeveral vaccines for HIV have been tested in animal studies and an early safety trial in people, showing promising results in both.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
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'Universal' cancer vaccine heading to human trials could be useful for 'all forms of cancer'A new mRNA-based vaccine triggers a response from the innate immune system to help arm the body against cancer, a mouse study finds. It's now in early human trials.
By Nicoletta Lanese Published
2 Commentscancer

